The Mirror Collecting Lights

--- medium corresponding to heaven

Exploring the true meaning of the mirror through art and sharing the consciousness with ancient people

   The mirror was brought about from the continent (China and Korea) and was politely succeeded as a special tool to conduct worshipping rituals.

It gradually took on stronger value of dignity and, in Japan, similar mirrors were casted and bestowed from the rulers to the ruled.

The mirror was something sacralized and the symbol of authority, and it was buried in ancient tombs with its owners after they died.

   Looks are taken at the decorated backside of the mirror.  Archaeologists, referring to its viewpoints and methods included in it, its forms and its materials, figure out a design, confirm it and make a style.  It’s the important procedure of work to understand regional exchange based on the influential zone, the characteristics of the ages being considered.  Museums in general, trying to show the fruit, exhibit the backside of the mirror, not the surface.

We wanted to face the mirror through different approach and seek the true meaning of the mirror.  The surface of the mirror is crystal clear and reflects everything, so it seemed to be very hard for the ancients to accept its power of reflection.

We thought that the way it reflected lights from the universe appeared to manipulate strong power, so people were charmed and ended up admiring and worshipping it.  That’s why, at this exhibition, we decided to focus on the surface of the mirror, because, through the power of art, we wanted to visualize the way ancient people thought.

By installing 2 huge mirrors here at Chikatsu Art Gallery (one from this museum, the other from the grave at our campus; enlarged by 40 times) so that you can see its surface, we designed to make installation work of reflecting a chain of lights.  We also wanted to stick to a style of sitespecific hands-on appreciation in which visitors collect lights using the mirror produced in the winter solstice 2022(4th year of Reiwa), as a result, take in the phenomenon caused by that.  We are sure that we can take such an approach because we have an open ceiling space here which can easily collect lights through its skylight window and they can feel the impulsive feeling brought by the mirror.

At this exhibition, we wanted to take it as significant to stand in awe of great nature and to be in its hands.  That means that the orbit of the sun and change of weather have a great influence on how we feel about the work.  We think that we can feel the same way as ancient people felt if each of us waits for the best chance of corresponding to heaven to come and continue to search for it. In addition, if you face the work or workshop which invites you beyond your image, seeking the root of the mirror, you will be able to open the door to the profound world.  We wish you to be connected to the soul of the mirror and have a pleasant time of it.